SFA exploring shared Celtic, Rangers & Glasgow City stadium plans

And Championship Queen’s Park have now been asked to consider selling the City Stadium in order to create shared 4G facility, projected to eventually hold between 3000 and 5000 spectators.

While the SFA have alternative options – including the building of a new stadium from scratch - Scotland’s men’s national team already train at Lesser Hampden. 

And the venue has now been earmarked as a potential opportunity for Celtic, Rangers and Glasgow City to increase attendances and improve the supporter experience by creating a bespoke hub venue capable of hosting double-bill fixtures on the same day. 

The SFA expect to rake in a sum in excess of £10million after Clarke’s team sealed their place in Friday’s World Cup draw.

In contrast, Queen’s Park face financial difficulties after Lord Willie Haughey announced that his sponsorship of Scotland’s oldest senior club would end in June. The club are now seeking substantial savings and restructuring their operations after closing their youth academy to cut costs.

While negotiations have yet to take place with Queen’s Park over a price or a venue for their future home games, SFA President Mike Mulraney is keen to initiate discussions over the 1000-capacity stadium.

Queen’s Park have summoned members to an update on club business on December 11.

Celtic’s women’s team currently rent Hamilton’s New Douglas Park for home fixtures, while Rangers utilise Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld. Glasgow City, current leaders of a thrilling SWPL title race, play at the 2000-capacity Petershill Park.  

Identifying the lack of designated, sustainable football facilities as an obstacle to the growth of the women’s game, however, SWPL Managing Director Fiona McIntyre told Herald Sport earlier this year that a smaller hub stadium would improve matchday atmosphere, project the women’s game in a better light and help to grow the audience.  

“In women’s football facilities are probably one of our single biggest challenges to growth.  

“We are trying to grow crowds and some of our biggest clubs play games that are not in, say, Glasgow or Edinburgh or Aberdeen because they have had to go to grounds outside the city to meet the criteria to be broadcast or spectator environments.  

“They don’t own those grounds so the security of tenure or ability to brand and do anything on a matchday beyond play the game is limited.  

“So, for me, facilities are a challenge in women’s football.  Imagine having a stadium in Glasgow that was a women’s football stadium?  

“We are in a position where some of our stadia like Petershill are great when you have 1000 people there. I’m not sure you’ll get many more in without it being a problem. “